Toll Plaza Changes Coming to Richmond-San Rafael Bridge

Second Booth for Carpoolers, Large Trucks Must Stay Right

OAKLAND, CA — Caltrans and the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) are making two key changes to the westbound Interstate 580 approach to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge toll plaza as part of the agencies’ continuing effort to improve traffic flow in the region’s toll bridge corridors. Beginning Friday, Oct. 26, carpools and other vehicles that qualify for free passage across the bridge during the peak periods of 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. will be able to use either toll booth 3 (third from left) or toll booth 6 (second from right). This will allow carpoolers to access the toll plaza via either the middle lane or the right lane of westbound I-580.

In addition to doubling the number of tollbooths available for carpoolers, work crews next week will install new signs along westbound I-580 to remind drivers that large trucks and other vehicles with three or more axles are prohibited from using the far left lane. Slow-moving trucks that use the left lane of I-580 and the two FasTrak®-only lanes on the left side of the toll plaza have been identified as contributors to the peak period congestion at the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge toll plaza and on the approach route to the bridge.

“Caltrans and BATA are working together to speed travel times and help ensure that commuters enjoy a safe and reliable trip,” said Caltrans District 4 Director and BATA Commissioner Bijan Sartipi. “So we’re fine-tuning the new lane configuration at the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, with the intent of reducing emissions for improved air quality and improving peak-period travel times for all motorists—whether they pay their tolls with FasTrak, with cash, or cross toll-free as part of a carpool.”

The new lane configuration on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge approach was instituted in August as part of a comprehensive plan to increase use of the FasTrak electronic toll collection system. The changes included the addition of a second FasTrak-only lane, which eliminated a toll lane for cash-paying vehicles. As expected, this resulted in up to six minutes of additional delay for cash payers. But FasTrak customers on some days also have been subject to additional delays of up to four minutes.

“Of all the changes made this summer at the various bridge toll plazas,” explained Marin County Supervisor and BATA Commissioner Steve Kinsey, “the new configuration at the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge has presented the greatest challenges. We will continue to monitor traffic on the bridge, at the toll plaza and on the westbound approach, and make further adjustments if necessary.”

FasTrak can be used in all lanes at all Bay Area toll plazas, including at the Golden Gate Bridge.

Caltrans owns, operates and maintains the state highway system, including seven Bay Area toll bridges. BATA, which is directed by the same policy board as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), administers toll revenues from the region's state-owned toll bridges. Toll revenues from the Golden Gate Bridge are administered by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District.

MTC is the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.